Cajuns Open Conference Play Against Middle Tennessee

Louisiana's Ragin' Cajun men's basketball team returns to the hardwood on Thursday evneing, when coach Bob Marlin's squad plays host to the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders, in the Sun Belt Conference opener for both teams.

Louisiana fell to 15th-ranked Michigan St., 63-60, on Sunday, dropping them to 2-4 on the year, while Middle Tennessee was last in action on Saturday of last week, defeating Texas Southern, 79-52, to improve to 4-1.

The Cajuns are led by freshman center Shawn Long, who is averaging 15.2 points and 7.7 rebounds a game, while the Blue Raiders are paced by senior guard Marcos Knight, who is averaging 12.4 points-per-game.

Middle Tennessee leads the all-time series, 10-7, including a 65-53 victory over the Cajuns last year in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.

Tip-off time at the Cajundome tonight is set for 7:05.

You can hear all the play-by-play action on Sports Radio ESPN 1420, and espn1420.com, as well as Hot 107.9, and 1079ishot.com, beginning with the pre-game show, at 6:35 pm.